NEW YORK RED BULLS

February 16, 2013ROLE REVERSALRed Bulls score 1st, but suffer their first pre-season loss to the Revs, 3-1

Luis Robles gave up two goals within a five-minute span in the second half.
Linda Cuttone/Sports Vue Images

TUCSON, Ariz. -- In their first three pre-season matches, the Red Bulls allowed the opening goal and were forced to rally for a win or a tie.

In their Tucson Desert Diamond Cup encounter with the New England Revolution on Saturday night, the Red Bulls grabbed a 1-0 lead, but allowed their foes to rally with two goals within five minutes in the second half en route to a 3-1 victory.

It was the Red Bulls' first exhibition defeat as they dropped to 2-1-1.

Revs forward Jerry Bengston tested Luis Robles seven minutes into the match, getting space in the box and firing a shot that the goalkeeper pushed aside.

For the first time this pre-season, the Red Bulls scored the first goal. Juninho did the honors, taking advantage of a Thierry Henry dummy to beat goalkeeper Matt Reis from atop the penalty area in the 11th minute.

Juninho almost doubled the lead with a second goal in the 26th minute. Tim Cahill laid off the ball to the Brazilian, who curled around a left-footed effort barely past the far right post.

Later, Red Bulls forward Fabian Espindola had a header off a corner kick deflected off target.

The Revs, however, rallied with a pair of goals early in the second half.

Red Bulls defender Jamison Olave was called for a handball off a Donnie Smith shot in the penalty area and Lee Nguyen converted the ensuing penalty kick past goalkeeper Luis Robles to knot things at up 1-1 in the 53rd minute.

Five minutes later, Honduran international striker Jerry Bengtson gave New England a 2-1 advantage as he headed home a Smith cross into the net.

Marko Jesic closed out the scoring for the Revs in the 88th minute. He was played a through ball on the right side and fired a shot to the left corner past guest player and goalkeeper Ian Joyce.

Robles played the opening 67 minutes before he was replaced by Joyce. Ryan Meara, who played the opening 18 matches last year before he suffered a hip injury, still is not ready to play.

Red Bulls midfielder Dax McCarty said on twitter that he did not play in the game "as a precaution." He did not give details of the injury.

The Red Bulls, who played Real Salt Lake to a 2-2 draw in their opening game on Wednesday night, finish the group stage of the competition against the Seattle Sounders on Wednesday. The tournament's third-place and championship matches are set for next Saturday.